Related Articles |
21 May 2008
By Tafadzwa Musekiwa (former MDC MP)
Following the Zimbabwe general election of 29 March 2008 where ZANU (PF) lost its Parliamentary majority, any ordinary Zimbabwean, political commentator, politician and indeed anyone with any interest in Zimbabwean politics, will tell you that Robert Mugabe and ZANU (PF) are on the way out and the MDC and Morgan Tsvangirai are on the way in.
Failure to acknowledge this fact has led to the unfortunate behaviour of some few ZANU (PF) rogue elements. This has led to instances of violence which have reportedly claimed the lives of 43 MDC supporters. This post-election violence has led to serious questions being raised on whether Robert Mugabe and ZANU (PF) are willing to concede defeat.
The situation in Zimbabwe has reached a tipping point, but the phase we are entering is unprecedented in post independent Zimbabwe. Politically, we are heading towards unchartered territory. Firstly, we are heading for a runoff, a first of its kind in our politics, and secondly and most importantly, we are heading for a runoff with Mugabe having officially lost the first round by over 200 000 votes.
Faced with imminent defeat, ZANU (PF) has resorted to scorched earth politics, i.e. kill and destroy everything in its path that's stopping them from retaining power. In Tsvangirai, they see an enemy, not an opponent. It is not a secret that Mugabe hates Tsvangirai with a passion. He has been on record stating that he will never rule Zimbabwe in his lifetime and has stated that he would rather die than see Tsvangirai taking over from him.
To Mugabe, his supporters must do everything to ensure that Tsvangirai does not become President. The outcome of the 29th March election has left little doubt that his supporters are too few to turn Mugabe's mantra into reality. Therefore, they cannot realistically stop Tsvangirai through the ballot. Mugabe will without doubt lose any election in Zimbabwe against Tsvangirai , whether free and fair or otherwise. The military has so far managed to postpone Tsvangirai's official victory but in the runoff a simple majority will ensure a victory for Tsvangirai. A valid motive for assasination therefore exists.
The evidence of Tsvangirai's life being in danger is not imaginary. What is imaginary is to think that Tsvangirai is suddenly afraid of being assassinated by Mugabe. This cannot be far away from the truth. Though not afraid, security details point to his assassination and any leader worth his salt, regardless of how brave he / she is, knows that bravery has its limits. History has shown us what happens when leaders ignore clear warnings of impending danger.
What needs to be understood is that this is the man who has stood head and shoulders with the suffering masses of Zimbabwe well before even the MDC itself was formed. This is the same Tsvangirai who on the 9th of October 1989, as secretary general of ZCTU, was imprisoned at a time when opposition politics was taboo in Zimbabwe. We must also not forget that he was hit with an axe in his 10th floor office and nearly thrown down from the 10th floor on the 11th of December 1997 by some rogue elements of the war veterans only to be saved by the cries of one brave secretary by the name of Farai.
On the 18th of June 2001 in Mvurwi Tsvangirai was nearly assassinated had it not been for brave security personnel and supporters some of whom were later beaten to death after he had left. We should remember that this is the same leader who has previously been charged with terrorism only to be acquitted on the 19th of November 2001. In the same year, together with Welshman Ncube and Ransen Gasela, Tsvangirai was falsely accused of treason in that Ben Menashe fiasco. On that same charge in June 2003 he stayed in remand prison for many weeks.
The only time we managed to see him was when he appeared in court for routine remand hearings shackled in leg irons and dirty prison issued khaki shorts and sandals. He was only to be cleared of any wrong doing in October 2004 after two agonising years with a death sentence hanging over his head. His beatings in March 2007 alongside Lovemore Madhuku, Grace Kwinji and Sekai Holland (not forgetting Nelson Chamisa’s near-fatal blow a few days later) among other activists were not meant to be a joke. I have only managed to highlight just a few examples of what Tsvangirai has gone through and how he has been treated by the state. It must be borne in mind that if he were lily livered, he would have abandoned opposition politics as long back as 2001.
I had the opportunity of working with him both in the national executive as well as in my capacity as one of his party's Member of Parliament and one thing that strikes me most about him is his tenacity against adversity. It is in his character and that cannot be taken way from him. The question would be then why all of a sudden would he run away especially after he is almost on the finishing line. Would it make sense for anyone to think that Tsvangirai is chickening out now at a time when his party has won the majority in parliament, at a time when he has officially won against Mugabe in a presidential election? I don't think so.
Any attempts to force his return without regards to his security concerns will take back the struggle for New Zimbabwe many years and it will be detrimental to any future trust in Zimbabwean politics and even Africa's move towards democracy in the event of a successful assassination. I will not advocate for Tsvangirai to stay away from home longer than neccessary , but there is need to ensure his safety from the day of his return up until the day of the election.
Tsvangirai's return, though it will act as a moral boost, will not necessarily stop the beatings and killings of MDC supporters by ZANU (PF). One must understand that in every election Zimbabwe has had since 2000, violence has always visited Mugabe opponents' doorstep whether Tsvangirai was present in Zimbabwe or not. The main focus should be the swift return of election observers, in their presence, though not fool proof, threats to Tsvangirai's life will be reduced. Their return will also reduce the killing of innocent Zimbabweans whose crime has been allegedly voting the wrong way. Due care must be exercised as we move towards the finishing line. Bravado is not bravery.
Tafadzwa Musekiwa
Former MDC MP (Zengeza) writing from the UK
Join the debate on this article in our forums today and share your views.
Nehanda Radio: Zimbabwe's first 24 hour internet radio news channel.
Who is Who in Zimbabwe featured profiles
Gabriel Shumba- Human rights lawyer
Lance Guma- Broadcast Journalist
Lovemore Madhuku- NCA Chairman